Samay Raina's stand-up shows in Gujarat have been postponed after anger erupted against a comment made by one of his guests on his YouTube reality show The India's Got Latent.
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) said tickets for Raina's April dates in Surat, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad have been removed from BookMyShow.
The outrage broke out after a viral video of social media influencer Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps, went viral. In the clip, Allahbadia's remarks about sex and parents received severe backlash, prompting police complaints in Mumbai and Guwahati.
VHP spokesperson Hitendrasinh Rajput stated, "It seems that all four of Raina's shows have been cancelled as a result of public outcry in Gujarat. Up until Wednesday morning, the tickets were available on sale on BookMyShow, but they have now been removed." Ashvin Patel, VHP's regional secretary, also released a statement blaming the growing public discontent.
"We welcome the vigil of people of Gujarat. I would request event managers not to invite these people to Gujarat," stated Patel. Following the outrage, Ranveer Allahbadia issued an apology labeling his statement a "lapse of judgment."
The scandal, however, continues to grow. In his initial public reaction, Raina declared on Wednesday that he had taken down all episodes of India's Got Latent from his YouTube channel. This whole episode has been overwhelming for me. I have removed all India's Got Latent videos from my channel. My only intention was to entertain people and put smiles on their faces. I will cooperate with the authorities in every way to make sure that a proper inquiry is conducted. Thanks," Raina posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The government had earlier asked YouTube to take down the offending episode on Tuesday. India's Got Latent, which started in June 2024, had broadcast 18 shows before the ban.
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